Therese Hensel

Therese Hensel of Hartford, formerly of Hustisford, surrounded by her loving family, passed away Tuesday, March 29 at the age of 95 years. She was born April 3, 1915 in Straubing, Germany, the daughter of Sebastian and Anna (nee Löffeler) Dienstbeck.Therese Altschaeffel Hensel and her twin, Johanna, were born in Straubing, Germany, on Good Friday, April 3, 1915, 5th and 6th of a family which would ultimately encompass 7 children. Her childhood was marked by WW I and the death of her mother. After graduating from high school and earning a master's degree in tailoring, she relocated to Munich where she met and married Hermann Altschaeffel. WW II began and after only 4 1/2 years of marriage, he was reported missing on the Russian front. In 1953, following her twin, she and her daughter emigrated to Hustisford, Wisconsin, where she married Otto Hensel, proprietor of Hustisford Machine Shop. She and her husband were the first in the area to recycle homes identified for demolition to expand freeways from Milwaukee to the community. She managed and maintained the properties until the early 1990s, when she retired and moved to Watertown. After Otto's death, she spent most of her time in her twin's residences in Beaver Dam and Arizona. In 2008 she became a resident of Deer View Meadows in Hartford, where she resided until her death.she was a life time member of The women of the Church at St. Michael's Lutheran church in Hustisford. She is preceded in death by her first husband, Hermann Altschaeffel and her second husband, Otto Hensel in 1997, her step-son Otis Hensel, her brothers Sebastian Dienstbeck, Otto Dienstbeck and Johann Dienstbeck, her sisters Anna Keck, Katherina Zenker and Johanna Hall. Therese is survived by her daughter Charlotte (Gordon) Berndt of Watertown, grandchildren Lon Berndt of Hustisford and Randy (Jackie) Berndt of Wittenburg, her great granddaughter Jennifer Berndt of Wittenburg, her step-son Otto (Marliss) Hensel of Wautoma and her step-grandchildren Denise,Heidi and Holly. Also survived by step-siblings in Germany, nieces, nephews in the USA and Europe, other relatives and friends. Visitation Sunday, April 3, 2011 from 1:30 – 3 PM at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church, Hustisford. Service will follow at 3 PM at the Church. Rev. Sheila Rawn will officiate. Interment Hustisford Cemetery. Memorials to St. Michael's Lutheran Church in Hustisford would be appreciated. The Berndt-Ledesma Funeral Home is serving the family.

Therese Hensel

April 3, 1915 - March 29, 2011